Chapter 4 - Sculpture in the Puranas

- 189 are also given in the Puranas. The Agni purana mentions seven different substances, such as clay, wood, iron, gem, stone, 10 sandal and flowers. But the purana chiefly expatiates on
In Chapter 44, the Agni Purana has given
In Chapter
the use of stone.
instructions about making the stone image of Vasudeva.
11 It is said that the stone is to be divided by lines each a
finger apart, and such a division is to be called a Svingula,
according to the Surpa measurement. part or division of the
stone enclosing a space measuring two such fingers is known by
the name of Golaka or Kalanatra. The block of stone is to be
divided into nine parts.
While giving the characteristic signs of the pedestals
(Pithika) the Matsya Purana remarks that stone, earthen,
wooden and mixed pedestals are to be assigned to images which
are made of stone, earthen, wooden and mixed materials
12 respectively. In the next chapter on Lingalaksana, the
author says in the last verse that Lingas should be made of
such materials as precious metals, crystals, earth and wood.
The chapter in Bhavi sya Purana (Ch. 131) on pratimēvidhi
in the Prathama Brahma Parva, gives details about this subject.
Narada, while explaining to Samba gives rules for the
construction of images of gods in general and Surya in particular
and says that seven kinds of images tending to the welfare of
the devotees are known, viz. those made of gold, silver, copper,
earth or clay, stone, wood and those that are drawn on canvas
and other objects. Of these, Narada selects those made of wood